New traffic cameras and message boards will boost real-time traffic alert system

Highway officials plan to add 24 traffic cameras and eight message boards to the busiest roads in the New Orleans area to enhance the system that provides real-time traffic information to motorists. There are already 93 cameras and 28 message boards in place.

"You can go online at your computer at work and look at the cameras in the area for real-time information," Transportation Secretary Sherry LeBas said at a news conference Wednesday.

Jay Cicero, president and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation and executive director of the 2013 Super Bowl Host Committee, said traffic management is an important part of any city's bid to host a Super Bowl or other large sporting event.

``This type of technology is extremely important as we submit a bid to NFL owners," he said.

Inside the Transportation Department's traffic management center in New Orleans is a huge control room with a dozen 60-inch video monitors that alternate regularly among the 93 cameras now in place, said Rachel Anderson, the center's supervisor.

When there is a wreck or any issue on the major roads in the area, the police in that jurisdiction are notified first. If motorist assistance vehicles are available, they are then dispatched and the information is put out on the 511 system.

"The goal is to get information to motorists within three minutes," Anderson said.

If the incident closes a road, such as a hazardous material spill, the situation is constantly updated and messages are regularly sent to law enforcement agencies and motorists.

So far, the 511 system has about 5,000 followers on Twitter.

"We hope to get a lot more, but that's not bad considering it's all been by word of mouth so far," Anderson said.

It's not known whether all of the new cameras and message boards will be online in time for Super Bowl, set for Feb. 3. But LeBas said all cameras and message boards will be put online as they are installed, instead of waiting to activate the entire batch.

"I would say that in time for the Super Bowl a majority of them will be up and working," she said.